Geraldton sports hub at old Rollerdrome plan rolls to council

The plan to open new sporting facilities at the former Geraldton Rollerdrome will be voted on by the City council after it received strong feedback from the public opposing the proposal.

The Geraldton Aboriginal Sporting Corporation applied to the City of Greater Geraldton for development approval to open a new indoor sports and youth facility at the privately owned site at 15 Simpson Street, Beresford.

RELATED NEWS

• Geraldton’s beloved Rollerdrome proposed to reopen
• Rollerdrome revival divides Geraldton residents
• OPINION: Let’s not go around in circles on Geraldton’s Rollerdrome revival proposal

The development application opened for public comment on August 4 and closed on August 18, with 47 public submissions received, most of which Mayor Shane Van Styn said were negative.

He said the response was above average what was usually received on most of its public consultation matters, often ranging from zero submissions to less than 20, but the response was low compared to the “thousands” of likes and comments he has seen on the issue online.

“The issue is, as there is majority formal opposition it must go to council,” he said.

“If it had of been overwhelming positive, staff could of simply approved it under delegation if they wished to do so.”

The issue is, as there is majority formal opposition it must go to council.

CGG planning and development staff had the authority to approve the land use after the mandatory feedback period if the feedback received was limited.

Chief executive Ross McKim said the City understood there had been “a lot of talk” amongst the community about the proposal and City officers had begun assessing and collating the submissions to be put forward at a future meeting.